Survival Bonds

Chapter 57: Saving the queen

We gave Draco half an hour. In that time he is to meet with Voldemort and give him the news of what can be expected. Immediately afterwards, Draco will be tasked with bringing food and water to Severus. Draco is always the one that Voldemort sends, but the guards outside the room make it impossible for Severus to escape. That is where Neville, Megan, and myself come in. We are to distract the guards- by any means necessary including killing them if it comes down to it. Neville, Megan, and Draco will then make sure to get Severus and meet back with us. The three of them will get Severus safely back, and I... will go in search of Voldemort.

It's time that this war ends.

The game of cat and mouse begins. We each look at our friends and silently hope that we all will make it back. We leave in waves starting with my group. They will wait about five minutes and the next group will leave. It's important that we do not all arrive at once, but it is equally important that we are not too scattered.

I know where he's being held, and my group rushes to get in position. We do not have long enough to take our time. It's obvious that we weren't expected, because I easily disarm the two guards before they notice we are even there. Neville casts a spell I have never heard before and the two guards are tangled up in thick vines that completely immobilize them. Megan casts a silencing charm around the two of them and then quickly follows it up with a vanishing spell.

"I think it's best is we maintain as low a profile as we can." She says with a smirk. For a moment she reminds me so much of my husband that it hurts. Neville and Megan stand guard while I go in and help Draco with Severus.

He's curled into the corner shivering. Draco seems to be wrapping a blanket around him for some semblance of modesty. Over and over Severus is muttering but it's not until I'm right next to him that I hear what he's saying.

"I'm not here. I'm not here. I'm not here. I'm not here."

"Is he okay?" I ask.

"He'll be better once we get him out of this place." Draco casts a spell to make Severus lighter that way we can easily lift him. I can feel so much of his pain that I have to fight to keep from passing out. At the sudden movement, Severus ends his manta mid sentence and looks at the two of us.

"I'm not... H.. Harry?" He looks at me as if he didn't fully believe. "Why... You shouldn't be here. Leave. Hurry."

"Shh. It's okay." This does little to calm him. Draco takes one arm, I take the other and we easily enough walk out of the room. The second we are outside, Neville takes the arm that was over my shoulder and smiles at Draco.

"Glad to see you two are okay." He says.

"Oh shove it Gryffindor. We don't have time for this." Draco retorts. Megan's wand is out and ready to cast any spell that she may need.

"Let's get going. You two can flirt once all of this is over."

"P..Princess?" Megan smiles at Severus.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you since the men folk need to help support you." She smiles very gently and lovingly at him. "But we don't have time for warm reunions right now either. Harry, get going." She nods to me. I know he will be safe.

"No. Dangerous."

"I'll see you when this is over Severus." And without giving myself so much as a kiss to my husband, I go in the opposite direction. Megan is right. There will be a time for all of that. After I defeat Voldemort. I have to trust that the others will do their part. But there is something that I've not told them.

The horcruxes. I am one. The others that existed have been dealt with, but I still exist and so does Nagini. Nagini is easy enough. But. I fully realize that I may die during this fight. I wanted to take my husband and kiss him knowing that it may be my last chance. At the same time though. I don't know that I would have went to my potential death afterwards.